Marking apparatus having register means



United States Patent lnventor. John S. Traynor Palo Alto, California Appl. ;No. 742,339 Filed July 3, 1968 Patented Aug. 18, 1970 Assignee Norsta Engineering,

Palo Alto, California a partnership MARKING APPARATUS HAVING REGISTER MEANS 26 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 101/93, 235/ 1 01 Int. Cl G07g l/04, B41j 3/00 Field ofSearch 01/93 93 [man] 94, 94, 91, 287, 110; 235 101, 7;346/141;101/371 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 876,677 1/1908 Anderson 235/101 1,962,729 6/1934 Andrews 235/101 1,984,141 12/1934 Komusin 235/101 2,020,493 11/1935 Andrews 101/95 2,204,971 6/1940 Rouan et a1.... 101/110 3,259,313 7/1966 Smith 235/101 Primary Examiner- William B. Penn Attorney-Townsend and Townsend ABSTRACT: A hand-held marking device which operates like a conventional rubber stamp to apply selective indicia to a surface to be marked. The device has a register responsive to the marking operation so that a record of the operation, including the relative values of the indicia applied to a surface, can be made to thereby render the device suitable for a number ofuses, including use as a postage meter.

Patented 1 Aug. 18,1970 3,524,406

Sheet l of 5 56 22 52% 53 57 35 54 55 35 22 b J -24 24 FIG 2 INVENTOR. JOHN S. TRAYNOR ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 18,1910

Sheet F l G 1O INVENTOR. JOHN S. TRAYNOR BY I I MAW ATTORNEYS MARKING APPARATUS HAVING REGISTER MEANS This invention relates to improvements in marking devices and has as its primary object the provision of marking apparatus of simple and rugged construction having register means for recording relative values of selective indicia applied to a surface to be marked. The apparatus can be adapted for use in the same manner as a conventional rubber hand stamp, so that the apparatus will be suitable for use in a variety of applications, including use as a postage meter wherein the apparatus satisfies all governmental requirements.

The present invention has a number of relatively shiftable, lightweight components capable of being ruggedly fitted together in a relatively small space. The apparatus has marking means which is movable into marking relationship with a surface to be marked when the apparatus is actuated. The marking means is constructed so that it immediately moves out of the marking position after a surface has been marked regardless of the relative positions of the'other components of the apparatus. Thus, the marking means can be retracted into an inaccessible location immediately after it has marked a surface to thereby prevent fraudulent manipulation of the marking means. A counter or register coupled to the marking means will thus provide a true cumulative record of the indicia applied by the marking means for a number of cycles of operation of the apparatus.

While the present invention is suitable for a variety of different applications, it is especially suitable for use as a postage meter. To simplify the explanation of the teachings of the invention, a postage meter will be described and it will be clear to those skilled in the art that, while such a description is illustrative of the invention, the inventive concepts are not limited to a postage meter. For instance, the apparatus of the invention can be used to apply indicia representing a number of different parameters, such as pressure, volume, weight, and other parameters which may have relative values and denote a property ofthe article to be marked by the apparatus.

With respect to the use of the apparatus as a postage meter, it will be made clear that certain advantages accrue from the use of the present invention. One advantage is that the apparatus is relatively lightweight and can be easily carried from place to place. Since the meter is hand-held, bulky or irregularly shaped envelopes, cartons or other pieces of mail can be readily stamped. The only requirement is that the mail pieces have surfaces against which the meter can be forced. This eliminates the need for postage tape of the type normally employed in conventional postage meters for application to packages or other pieces of mail which are too bulky to pass through the postage meter.

" The present invention, when used as a postage meter, is capable of satisfying U.S. governmental requirements for such devices. These requirements are set forth in Part 143 of the Postal Manual ofthe U.S. Post Office Department.

Thus, a further object of this invention is to provide a postage meter which satisfies governmental requirements even though it is relatively small and lightweight in construction and notwithstanding the fact that it operates like a conventional rubber hand stamp.

Another advantage of the present postage meter is that it can be carried to the pieces of mail, rather than having to carry the mail to the meter, as is required when using conventional postage meters. This extremely important where a large number of packages or similar pieces of mail must be stamped. It is oftentimes inconvenient for an individual to first carry packages to a conventional postage meter and then apply individual postage tape strips to the packages. This problem is clearly circumvented by providing a hand-held postage meter which can be carried from place to place so that mail pieces to be provided with postage need not be moved.

Another object ofthe present invention is, therefore, to provide a hand-held postage meter which requires only a minimum surface area on a piece of mail to be stamped so that bulky or irregularly-shaped pieces of mail can be readily stamped without having to move the mail pieces to a central location such as is required when conventional postage meters are utilized.

Although the present postage meter operates like a conventional rubber hand stamp, provision is made to assure that there will be no fraudulent dispensing of postage, such as by holding the relatively shiftable parts of the meter in fixed positions and then performing a series of stamping operations so as to dispense postage without actuating the registers in the meter. To this end, the printing wheels move from initial positions into marking or printing relationship with a surface to be stamped when the hand-held external housing of the postage meter is urged toward the surface and, as soon as the printing step is completed, the wheels return to their initial positions regardless of the position of the housing relative to the surface. Thus, the postage meter cannot be handled in a manner so as to fix the printing wheels against return movement to their initial positions. There must, therefore, be movement of the external housing toward the surface to be printed for postage to be applied to the surface. The register means within the housing is responsive to the movement of the latter and is actuated only if postage is dispensed. Hence, there can be no fraudulent dispensing of postage from the meter.

Thus, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a hand-held postage meter which requires that the external housing of the meter move toward a surface to be stamped in order for the printing wheels to engage the surface, whereby the register means within the housing and coupled thereto is actuated in response to the movement thereof and only if postage is dispensed to thereby eliminate any possibility of fraudulent dispensing of postage from the meter.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings for an explanation of a preferred embodiment of the meter. 4

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the postage meter;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the postage meter;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show respective halves of the postage meter when the same is opened by a key to permit additional postage to be set up on the descending register of the meter, with a number of components deleted in the drawing for clarity;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the meter with the registers removed, showing the outer housing, the printing wheels support assembly, and the base assembly;

FIGS. 7 through 10 are cross-sectional views of the meter with the registers removed, showing the relative positions of certain of the meter components during a printing operation;

FIG. I l is a vertical section of the meter looking toward one side thereof;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. I l but looking toward the opposite side of the meter.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal section through the central portion of the meter; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. l3 and showing the locking structure for rendering the meter inoperative.

A preferred embodiment of a postage meter utilizing the teachings of this invention is denoted by the numeral 20 and is comprised of three main subassemblies as shown in FIG. 6, namely, the outer housing 22, the base assembly 24, and the meter carriage assembly 26. Base assembly 24 and carriage assembly 26 are received within and are shiftable relative to housing 22. Also, carriage assembly 26 is shiftable relative to base assembly 24.

Carriage assembly 26 carries the marking or printing wheels 28 and 30 which print the surface to be stamped. Each wheel has a number of marking or printing areas on its periphery, there being a respective digit at each printing area. Base assembly 24 has an opening 31 through which the printing. wheels pass during a marking or printing operation. Also, assembly 24 carries the meter stamp die 32 which contains the usual postal symbols and has an opening 33 through which date wheels 34 project. These date wheels are rotatably mounted in any suitable manner on assembly 24 and can be easily rotated by hand to change the dates to be stamped with the postage. The date wheels could include a time wheel for printing the time of day at which the stamping occurs.

Housing 22 is adapted to be hand-held and to be pressed toward a surface to be stamped to initiate a marking or printing cycle. It is coupled to base assembly 24 and carriage assembly 26 in a manner such that the various operating components of these assemblies are actuated in response to the movement of the housing.

Housing 22 is comprised of a pair of shell-like halves or sections 35 and 36 (FIGS. 2, 4 and which are separable to permit access to the interior of the meter. Sections and 36 have mating elements at their outer peripheries (FIGS. 4 and 5), such elements including projections 37 on section 35 which are complementally received within recesses 38 on sec tion 36 when the sections are moved together. Thus, the sec tions are guided into proper relative positions when housing 22 is to be closed. The sections are releasably held together by a lock 39 having one part 40 on the inner surface of section 35 and another part 41 on the inner surface of section 36. A key 44 inserted through an opening (not shown) in base assembly 24 is receivable in the lock to unlock the section so that they can be separated in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

When the sections are together, they define an open bottom 46 (FIG. 6) for housing 22 and provide windows 47 and 48 at the ends of the housing to permit viewing of the digit wheels 49 of ascending and descending registers 50 and 51 therewithin'. These registers are shown broken away in FIG. 6 but, as shown in FIG. 12, each register is comprised of a number of digit wheels 49 mounted for rotation on a common shaft in a conventional manner. Registers 50 and 51 are conventional in construction and each of their wheels 49 are coupled with adjacent wheels in a manner to assure a complete revolution of a lower digit wheel for one-tenth revolution of the next adjacent, higher digit wheel.

Section 35 has a pair of openings 52 and 53 (FIG. 1) through which telltale segments 54 and 55 corresponding to and secured to respective printing wheels 28 and 30 can be viewed. Thumb wheels 56 and 57 frictionally engage segments 54 and 55 and are biased toward and partially through respective openings 52 and 53 by leaf springs 58 and 59 secured to the inner surface of section 35 (FIG. 4). Thus, the thumb wheels are mounted for rotation on shell 35 and serve to effect manual rotation of wheels 28 and 30. Also, wheels 56 and 57 are sprung against wheel segments 54 and 55 and are pushed out further through openings 52 and 53 by the curved surfaces of 54 and 55 as the case to which they are attached is pushed downwardly.

On the inner surface 60 of section 36. an open-face, opentop guidebox 61 is secured (FIG. 6). An actuator block 62 is disposed within box 61 and is allowed to move toward and away from surface 60 as well as along this surface during the times when the block is not confined against movement in these directions by box 61 and other structure. A leaf spring 63 secured to the underside 64 ofthe top portion 65 of section 36 engages the outermost, sloping surface 66 of block 62. Surface 66 slopes away from top portion 65 as inner surface 60 of section 36 is approached. Thus, spring 63 tends to push block 62 away from top portions 65 and away from surface 60.

Base assembly 24 is comprised of a U-shaped frame 67 (FIG. 6). the bottom surface of this frame having the meter stamp die 32 thereon. A rocking cam plate 68 is pivotally mounted on frame 67 by means of a pin 69 carried by an ear 70 on the upper surface 71 of frame 67. A spring stop 72 is secured to frame 67 adjacent to one side 73 thereof. Stop 72 has a shoulder 74 adjacent to its upper end.

Carriage assembly 26 includes a support defined by a plate 43 and this plate has been deleted to a large extent in FIGS. 6- 10 to reveal the relative positions of certain of the meter components. Plate 43 is shiftably mounted on section 36 in spaced relationship to the inner surface 60 thereof by pins 75 (FIG.

5) which extend through respective, parallel slots 76 formed in plate 43. Each pin 75 has a head 77 which limits the movement of plate 43 away from inner surface 60. This pin and slot arrangement allows section 36 to shift relative to plate 43.

Plate 43 is spaced from inner surface 60 of section 36 and effectively closes the interior of section 36, so that the working parts of the meter can be placed in this space and be closed off to satisfy one of the governmental requirements relating to postage meters. Plate 43 has an irregular inner face 78 (FIG. 1 l) and is provided with a lateral flange 79 which supports a pair of C-shaped mounting members 80 and 81 for respective registers 50 and 51. A common shaft 82 for each register is coupled to the corresponding mounting member and has a number of digit wheels 49 rotatably mounted thereon (FIG. 12).

Printing wheels 28 and 30 are mounted on plate 43 by means of a shaft 83 secured at one end to a lateral extension 84 (FIG. 1 l) rigid to one end edge 85 (FIG. 5) of plate 43 and at the other end to extension 99 (FIG. 5) of plate 43. The wheels are rotatably mounted on shaft 83 and they rotate independently of each other. Telltale segments 54 and 55 are rigid to the sides of wheels 28 and 30 and, thus, rotate therewith.

Printing wheels 28 and 30 and date wheels 34 are preferably of the self-inking type made of a plastic, porous material. Thus, the wheels provide their own ink supply and need only be replenished with ink at relatively infrequent intervals. A material suitable for use in defining these wheels is marketed under the trade name of Polypore.

Wheel 28 is adapted to print the tens of cents digit while wheel 30 is adapted to print the cents digit. Wheel 28 is provided with a cam element 86 (FIG. l2) having a cam surface 86-a engaged by a cam follower 87 attached to a lever 88 pivotally mounted on stub shaft 89 extending laterally from extension 84. (FIGS. 1 l and 12).

Wheel 30 has a similar cam 90 (FIG. 6) provided with a cam surface 91 and engaged by one end 92 ofa first stop element 93. This crank is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on plate 43 by means ofa pin 94 which is received within a slot (not shown) to permit it to move laterally of wheel 30 to a limited degree as well as rotate relative to plate 43. The opposite end of stop element 93 has a pin 95 which rotatably mounts a second stop element 96 having a series of serrations on one longitudinal edge thereof to define stops 97, there being a stop 97 for each digit or printing area on printing wheel 28. Lever 88 has an extension 98 (FIG. 12) which engages the opposite longitudinal edge of stop element 96 and controls the inclination of the latter with respect to pin 95. As wheel 28 is rotated to increase the amount of the postage to be dispensed, stop element 96 is shifted so that its inclination is increased, when viewing FIG. 6, i.e., the lower end of the stop element is moved away from flange 79. Conversely, the stop element inclination is decreased as wheel 28 is rotated in the opposite direction.

First stop element 93 has an operative position for each digit on wheel 30, respectively, and is movable into any one of these positions upon rotation of cam 90. Leaf spring 72 tangentially engages element 93 slightly below pin 94 tending to impart a slight clockwise moment on element 93 to keep it engaged with cam surface 91 as well as imparting an inwardly directed (left) force (exerted to the left in FIG. 6) on element 93 tending to keep pin 94 at the innermost end of its supporting slot. The effect of changing from one digit on wheel 30 to another is to shift the outer end of stop element 93 and thereby vary the initial position of stop element 96 since stop element 93 provides the support for the proximal end of stop element 96.

Means is provided to actuate registers 50 and 51 in response to the movement of housing 22 and carriage assembly 26 relative to base assembly 24. To this end, a crank 100 is pivotally mounted adjacent to one end thereof on the upper extremity of plate 43 by means of a pin 102 (FIG. 6). Crank 100 is provided with a lateral flange 104 (FIG. 11) having a serrated for rotation relative thereto.

The upper end of stub shaft 110 is provided with a first spur gear 112 in mesh with a second spur gear 114 secured to a shaft 116 rotatably mounted in lateral flange 79.

A gear train 118 (FIG. 6) is carried by flange 79 and is responsive to the rotation of shaft 116. Gear train 118 includes a third spur gear 120 coupled to shaft 116 and in mesh with a fourth spur gear 122 secured to the adjacent end of shaft 82 corresponding to register 50. Third spur gear 120 is also coupled to a fifth spur gear 124 which, in turn, is in mesh with a sixth spur gear 126 and gear 126 meshes with a seventh spur gear 128 secured to the lower end of shaft 82 corresponding to register 51. Spur gears 120 and 126 are identical to each other in size and pitch and spur gears 122 and 128 are likewise identical in size and pitch as shown in FIG. 13. Thus, shafts 82 of registers 50 and 51 rotate through the same are in response to a given rotation of shaft 116.

A ratchet 130 (FIG. 13) is secured to the inner surface 78 of plate 43 and is coupled with spur gear 122 to prevent reverse rotation thereof. Thus, registers 50 and 51 can only rotate in one direction. A one-way coupling 132 (FIG. 6) mounted on shaft 110 allows pinion 108 to free wheel when crank 100 swings in a counter-clockwise sense when viewing FIG. 6. Thus, no rotational motion is imparted to shaft 116 as edge 106 moves toward stop element 96.

A second, resilient ratchet 134 is carried on an extension 136 secured to face 78 of plate 43. Ratchet 134 is disposed to engage spur gear 112 to prevent rotation thereof unless printout of postage occurs. To this end, an extension 138 (FIGS. 6 and 13) carried on cam plate 68 engages an L-shaped resilient movable stem 140 secured to plate 43. As cam plate 68 rocks in a clockwise sense when viewing FIG. 6, extension 138 shifts stem 140 to the right when viewing FIG. 13 to cause ratchet 134 to move out of coupled relationship to spur gear 112. This action unlocks" the gear train 118 and allows the registers to rotate. The locking feature of ratchet 134 prevents erroneous registration on the registers in the event that crank 100 fails to move to the righthand end of its path of travel when viewing FIG. 6.

Provision is made on descending register 51 to automatically lock the meter after all ofthe preset postage in the meter has been dispensed. To this end, the wheel 49a of register 51 next adjacent to flange 79 has a notch 142 which engages an extension 144 of a stop 146 rotatably secured to the inner surface 60 of section 36. This causes the extension to swing aside and a shorter segment 147 of stop 146 is caused to overhang an extension 148 of wheel 49a as the wheel rotates a tenth ofa turn after the other wheels 49 have passed through zero" balance. The meter cannot be operated thereafter until the register is reset back to the position shown in FIG. 14. This is accomplished at a post office upon payment of the fee for additional postage to be set up in the meter.

A pair of doors 150 and 151 are coupled to plate 43 in covering relationship to registers 50 and 51, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. Door 150 has an arm 153 secured to plate 43 by a rivet 152. Door 151 has a lateral arm 154 which fits over a pin 155 having a hole therethrough for receiving the wire 156 ofa Post Office seal 157. When wire 156 is broken. door 151 can be removed from plate 43 so that access to descending register 51 can be had. .This register can then be manipulated to set up postage in the meter. The operator can release register 51 from the locking action of stop 146 and register 51 can be returned to zero balance in the usual manner. The side edges of doors 150 and 151 opposite to respective arms 153 and 154 are provided with suitable structure for retaining the doors when closed on respective frames 80 and 81 attached to plate 43.

Meter as described above, satisfies the specifications for postage meters as set forth in Part 143 ofthe Postal Manual of the United States Post Office Department. These specifications require an ascending register as well as a descending register and the descending register must actuate a locking mechanism, such locking mechanism of meter 20 being the structure shown in FIG. 14. The specifications also require that the descending register be accessible by means of a door equipped with a suitable lock. This door, in effect, is represented by section 35 and the lock is represented by lock 39. Also, the entire meter mechanism must be encased in a substantial housing. This requirement is met by placing all of the essential parts of the meter between plate 43 and the inner surface 60 of section 36. The registers are covered by doors and 151 and, when sections 35 and 36 are separated, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, only printing wheels 28 and 30 will be exposed.

OPERATION The way in which meter 20 is used to dispense postage to a surface is shown sequentially in FIGS. '7-10. FIG. 7 illustrates the starting positions of the operating components of the meter. Base assembly 24 is partially telescoped in the open bottom of housing 22, it being clear that sections 35 and 36 which comprise the housing are locked together. Housing 22 and base assembly 24 will have been shiftably interconnected such as by the use of pins 157 secured to the sides of section 36 and extending through slots 157a in the sides of frame 67. Carriage assembly 26 is positioned so that one side portion 158 of flange 79 has a lower edge engaging shoulder 74 of stop 72 (FIG. 7). Also, the carriage assembly is supported on section 36 at two other locations, namely by pins 75 (FIG. 5). To show the relative positions of the movable parts, registers 50 and 51 and the gear train coupling crank 100 to the registers are deleted in FIGS. 7-10.

Referring to FIG. 7, meter 20 is disposed on a surface 160 to be printed with postage. This surface is shown and will be described as being horizontal but it is clear that it can be vertical or inclined as well. It is assumed that wheels 28 and 30 have been sufficiently inked and preset to print the proper postage and that sufficient preset postage has been placed in the meter on descending register 51.

The meter is positioned on the surface and housing 22 is depressed to initiate the print-out step. However, block 62 in box 61 does not immediately move down with housing 22 because a projection 162 on cam plate 68 engages the bottom of block 62 as shown in FIG. 7. The box 61, however, moves with the housing 22 and, as shown in FIG. 8, the inner end or bottom of the box is spaced below the block after housing 22 has moved a finite distance toward surface 160.

A pin 164 on box 61 moves against and along a cam surface 166 on an extension 168 of cam plate 68 to push the cam plate clockwise when viewing FIG. 8 as housing 22 continues to be lowered. This action tends to move projection 162 to the right and from beneath block 62 until it clears the latter. If the housing is released before this point is reached, the components return to their starting positions shown in FIG. 7 without actuating the registers and without effecting the printout step.

As the housing 22 continues to be depressed, projection162 clears block 62 and spring 63 forces the block downwardly. When this occurs, a ledge 170 on block 62 engages a projection 172 on crank 100 to cause the latter to swing in a counterclockwise sense as shown in FIG. 9 against the biasing action of a spring 178. The crank continues to swing until it engages the stop 97 in its arcuate path of travel. This stop corresponds to the digit on wheel 28 that is in printing position. A force is applied to stop element 96 by continued rotation of crank 100 and this force causes both stop elements to pivot slightly clockwise when viewing FIG. 9 about an axis through the point of contact between stop element 93 and its cam 90. Stop element 93 moves the adjacent portion of stop 72 to the right when viewing FIG. 9 to cause shoulder 74 to move from beneath portion 158. The entire carriage assembly 26 then becomes unsupported and it shifts downwardly under the in- 7 fiuence of spring 63 until wheels 28 and 30 attain flush printing position as shown in FIG. 9. The wheels then printout the postage on surface 160.

As carriage assembly 26 shifts downwardly, lateral extension 84 (FIGS. 9l1) engages another projection 174 (FIGS. 7-11) on cam plate 68 so as to cause the rotation of the latter an additional amount in a clockwise direction. A fingerlike projection 176 on the upper end of cam plate 68 then sweeps in front of and engages block 62 in a manner to force the latter toward the inner surface 60 of section 36. This causes block 62 to become disengaged from projection 172 on bell crank 100 which then commences to swing in the opposite direction toward its starting position under the action of spring 178 in the manner shown in FIG. 10. When block 62 is at its lowermost position (FIG. spring 63 has minimum downward biasing effect so that a return spring 180 between frame 67 and the bottom of plate 43 then forces carriage assembly 26 upwardly toward its starting position independently of the relative positions of housing 22 and base assembly 24. Hence, the housing cannot be clamped fully depressed and meter stamps cannot be printed at will fraudulently, i.e., without actuating registers 50 and 51.

As crank 100 returns to its starting position, it rotates pinion 108, which, in turn, imparts movement to the gear train to effect actuation of registers 50 and 51. As carriage assembly 26 moves away from base assembly 24, portion 158 moves above shoulder 74 and stop 72 then returns to the position shown in FIG. 7. Spring 180 overcomes the right-hand portion of spring 63 but when carriage assembly 26 is returned to its starting position, this right-hand spring portion has an upward biasing effect on housing 22. Thus, the housing returns to its starting position when downward pressure thereon is released.

An extension 182 (indicated only on FIGS. 7 and 11) on crank 100 engages a projection 184 on cam plate 68 as crank 100 is returning to its starting position. Thus, when pressure is released on housing 22, cam plate 68 automatically is pushed back to its starting position shown in FIG. 7. Upward movement of the housing causes block 62 to be raised with box 61. Upon projection 176 disengaging from block 62 by returning to starting position (FIG. 7), top ledge 170 of block 62 shifts forwardly under the action of spring 63 and again overhangs the projection 172 on crank 100. At this time, the printing cycle is ready to be repeated.

The amount of postage recorded on the registers is determined by the angular swing of crank 100. When the tens postage wheel 28 is set to print 90 cents, stop element 96 is position such that crank 100 engages the last stop 97 adjacent to pin 95. Thus, the crank is brought to a halt with respect to stop element 96 but can continue to move therewith since crank 93 can move laterally to a limited degree. If wheel 28 is set to print 80 cents, stop element 96 will be automatically adjusted so that crank 100 will engage the second from the last stop 97. If set for 70 cents, the third from the last stop 97 is engaged by crank 100 and so on. Cam 90 corresponding to the cents wheel 30 causes crank 93 to shift endways onetenth of the distance between stops 97 for every tenth of a turn of wheel 30 to account for postage printed thereby. The settings shown in FIGS. 7-10 are for a print-out of 99 cents in postage.

The postage amount set on descending register 51 progressively decreases as meter is used. Conversely, the amount on ascending register 50 progressively increases by a corresponding amount. Thus, the user of the meter will know at all times exactly how much postage is left in the meter and how much has been dispensed with respect to a predetermined reference value. The registers work in the normal manner with the cents wheel 49 making a complete revolution before the tens of cents wheel 49 is caused to move by one-tenth of a revolution. Similarly, the dollars wheel 49 moves a tenth of a revolution for each revolution of the tens of cents wheel 49, etc.

When the postage left in the meter to be dispensed is any value less than $1.00, wheels 28 and 30 can be manipulated to cause a print-out of 99 cents. To account for this, the user of the meter will pay an extra dollar to the Post Office at the outset and, if more postage is dispensed than is left in the meter, register 51 will be caused to register a postage value below zero, i.e., will register a series of nines. However, when this occurs, the locking structure of FIG. 14 will come into use to prevent dispensing of any further postage until the meter is replenished at a post oflice.

Means other than that described above can be utilized to prevent fraud in the dispensing of postage from meter 20. For instance, there could be provided several protruding members coupled to housing 22 which must be retracted into the meter housing in order to initiate the movement of the printing unit. Such protruding members could define the base for the meter and would be retracted when the housing is forced toward the surface to be printed or marked, causing the resistors to be actuated with each application. Some portion of such retracted or extended member, as the case may he, could be within the boundaries of the printing surface of the stamp die in such manner that clamping of the members in the printout position for the purpose of fraudulently printing postage without actuating the meter registers would cause improper, telltale printing.

Another way of accomplishing this is to mount the printing wheels and the stamp die in such a manner as to cause the printing areas of these components to be at an angle with respect to each other when the wheels are in their retracted or initial position. When printing is to occur, the printing areas of the wheels would become coplanar with the printing area of the stamp die. Also, the printing area of the stamp die could be divided into two sections normally out of alignment with each other but movable into alignment when the printing step is to occur. These sections could move along a straight or curved line into and out of alignment. Furthermore, the stamp die could be formed from a resilient material, allowing it to be normally distorted but movable into the proper disposition for printing in response to the movement of the housing relative to and toward a surface to be printed. Also, a telltale indicator could be utilized with the meter to print a particular mark on the surface when postage is printed out and when the counters are not rotated. Such a mark could be a bright red spot or the like to signify that the postage is fraudulent. Still another way of accomplishing this is to control the ink supplied to the printing wheels and to the stamp die.

While the foregoing description illustrates how a surface can be marked by forcing printing wheels and a stamp die against it, means other than pressure can be utilized to carry out the teachings of the present invention. The concept of marking a surface, therefore, encompasses means and methods of applying indicia other than those described above. For instance, the indicia applied to a surface can be initially invisible so that it can later be treated in a certain manner, such as by chemicals, to render it visible. Moreover, surface marking can be achieved by deforming localized areas of the surface to be marked. Marking can also be effected by chemical changes, changes in electrical charge and the like.

In addition to the use of pressure, the following can be utilized-to effect a marking of a surface: heat transfer, photographic changes, electrical transfer, chemical changes, hot stamping operations, silk screen-type transfers, electrostatic charge generation, ultrasonic action to change local molecular structure, magnetic changes, radioactivity changes, shearing, such as with punch cards or tapes, vacuum changes, ejecting recording material, i.e., like a spray gun, selective absorption, or any combination of these various types.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Marking apparatus comprising: a first member; a second member shiftably mounted on said first member and engageable with a surface to be marked; means biasing said one member away from said other member; a carriage shiftably mounted on said one member and having a marking device provided with a number of marking areas, with each marking area having a value relative to the values of the other marking areas, said device being selectively movable to position a marking area in a marking location relative to said members; structure coupled with said carriage for moving the latter relative to said other member and in a direction to shift said device from an initial position to a surface-marking position in response to the movement of said one member toward a surface engaged by said other member; means coupled with said carriage for moving the same in the opposite direction to shift said device from said surface-marking position toward said initial position after said device has moved into said surface-marking position and independently of the position of said one member relative to said other member; an actuatable register mounted on said carriage; and means responsive to the selective positioning of said device and to the movement of said one member relative to said other member for actuating said register, whereby the register will record an indication of the relative value of a marking area in said marking location corresponding to each time the device moves into said surface-marking position.

2. Marking apparatus comprising: a pair of interconnected members, one of the members being shiftably mounted on the other member and disposed for movement relative thereto in one direction through a limited distance to cause said other member to be urged into engagement with a surface to be marked; a marking unit shiftably mounted on a first of said members and including a marking device having a number of marking areas thereon, said device being movable relative to said members along a first path to position any one of said marking areas in a marking location, said marking unit being movable along a second path into and out of a position with said marking location in marking relationship to a surface to be marked; first stop means coupled with said unit for releasably holding the same out of said position and being shiftable relative thereto sufficiently to clear the unit and thereby allow the latter to move into said position; means coupled with said unit for moving the same toward said position when said first stop means clears said unit; second stop means coupled with said unit for shifting said first stop means to a location clearing said unit, said second stop means having an operative location for each marking area of said device respectively and being movable into any one of said operative locations as the corresponding marking area is moved into said marking location; means responsive to the movement of said one member relative to the other member for sensing the operative location of said second stop means corresponding to the marking area in said marking location and for moving said second stop means sufficiently to cause the latter to shift said first stop means to said clearing location; and an actuatable register, said sensing and moving means being coupled to said register for actuating the same by an amount corresponding to the position of the operative location sensed by the last mentioned means relative to a predetermined reference, whereby the register will provide an indication of the presence of a marking area in said marking location.

3. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensing and moving means includes a shiftable memher, said second stop means being disposed across the path of travel of said member and engageable thereby at any one of a number of regions corresponding to respective operative locations of said second stop means.

ill

4. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein is provided first means biasing said one member opposite to said one direction, said means for moving said unit toward said position including structure removably biasing said unit toward said position and second means biasing said unit away from said position and exerting a bias force less than the bias force of said structure, whereby the unit is moved out of said position by said second means when the bias force of said structure is removed from said unit.

5. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second path is substantially parallel to said one direction, said first path being substantially perpendicular to said first path, said sensing and moving means including a crank mounted on said unit for swinging movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said paths.

6. Marking apparatus comprising: a pair of interconnected members, one of the members projecting outwardly from the other member and being shiftably mounted thereon for movement relative thereto in one direction through a limited distance to cause said other member to be urged into engagement with a surface to be marked; means biasing said one member in a direction opposite to said one direction; a marking unit shiftably mounted on a first of said members and including a marking device having a number of marking areas thereon, said device being movable relative to said members along a first path to position any one of said marking areas in a marking location, said marking unit being movable along a second path into and out of a position with said marking location in marking relationship to a surface to be marked; first means removably biasing said unit toward said position; second means biasing said unit away from said position and exerting a bias force less than the bias force of said first means; a shiftable abutment carried by the second of said members and disposed to releasably hold said unit out of said position, said device having an adjustable stop movable into any one of a number of operative locations in response to the movement of said device along said first path, there being an operative location of the stop for each marking area of said device respectively, said marking unit having a shiftable sensor movable from a starting location spaced from said stop into engagement with the latter and thereby to the operative location of said stop corresponding to the marking area in said location in response to the movement of said one member relative to said other member, each operative location of said stop being a respective distance from said starting location of said sensor, said stop and said sensor being movable as a unit through a preselected distance after said sensor has engaged the stop to cause said stop to engage said abutment and to move the same out of holding relationship to said unit, whereby the unit will move to said position under the influence of said first means, said first means being movable relative to said unit out of biasing relationship thereto when the unit is moved to said position, whereby said unit will be moved out of said position under the influence of said second means; an actuatable register carried by said unit; and means coupling the sensor with said register to actuate the latter in response to the movement of the sensor whereby the register will provide an indication of the distance through which said sensor moves and thereby the presence of a marking area in said marking location.

7. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said one member includes a housing having an open bottom, said other member being partially telescoped in the housing across said open bottom thereof and provided with an opening, said device projecting partially through said opening when the marking unit is in said position.

8. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said marking unit is shiftably mounted on said one member for movement through a limited distance relative thereto, said abutment being secured to said other member.

9. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said stop includes an elongated member having a serrated edge defining a number of spaced edges adapted to be engaged by said sensor, there being an edge for each operative location of said stop, said member being movable to position any one of said edges across the path of said sensor as the corresponding marking area is moved into said marking location.

10. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said sensor includes a pivotally mounted crank having a serrated edge thereon, said register including a rotatable shaft, said coupling means including a gear train connecting said shaft with said serrated edge of said crank.

11. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said one member is provided with a shiftable block, said first means movably engaging said block, said sensor including a swingably mounted crank, said block being movable into engagement with said crank to cause the latter to swing toward said stop in response to the movement of said one member toward said other member, said first means being movable out of biasing relationship to said block after the latter has moved to a limit corresponding to said position of said marking unit.

12. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein is included a cam plate disposed on said other member for holding said block against movement relative to said crank until said one member has moved through a pre determined distance relative to said other member.

13. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said cam plate has a first portion for holding said block against movement toward said other member until said one member has moved through said predetermined distance, said first portion being movable to a location clearing said block in response to the movement of said one member toward said other member, said cam plate having a second portion movable into engagement with said block to urge the latter away from said limit and toward its starting position in response to the movement of said sensor and said stop as a unit through said preselected distance, whereby said block will be in position to be engaged by said first means when said one member is moved in said opposite direction under the influence of said bias means thereof.

14. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein is included a spring coupled with said crank and disposed to return the same to its starting location after said block has been urged away from said limit.

15. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said imit has a pair of marking wheels, one of said marking wheels defines said device, the other wheel having a number of marking areas thereon, the wheels being mounted for rotation on a common axis independently of each other and being movable together into marking relationship with a surface to be marked, said stop including a stop element for each wheel respectively, the stop element corresponding to said one wheel being movable across the path of said sensor in response to the rotation of said one wheel about said common axis, the other stop element being coupled to said one stop element and movable therewith as a unit against said abutment under the influence of said sensor, said other stop element being movable into any one of a number of operative dispositions corresponding to respective marking areas thereof in response to the rotation of the other wheel on said common axis, said stop elements being movable through a distance corresponding to the operative disposition of the other stop element, whereby the register will indicate the distance through which said sensor moves relative to said stop elements and the distance through which said stop elements move as a unit.

16. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said other stop element has a pair of spaced ends and is coupled to said unit for limited movement relative to said other wheel, one end of said other stop element being pivotally coupled to said one stop element, said other wheel having a cam surface movable therewith, the other end of said other stop element engaging said cam surface and movable thereby into said operative dispositions.

17. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said one device has a cam surface movable therewith, and including means coupling said one stop element with said cam surface to cause the stop element to move into an operative location as the corresponding marking area moves into said marking location.

18. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein is provided means coupled with said register for preventing reverse actuation thereof.

19. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said register includes a rotatable shaft, said coupling means including a gear train, and including ratchet means coupled to the gear train for preventing reverse rotation of the shaft.

20. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein is provided means carried by said one member and coupled with said register for preventing movement of said one member relative to the other member after the register has indicated a predetermined value thereon.

21. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said register has a rotatable shaft, said coupling means including a gear, said sensor having a serrated edge in mesh with the gear and means preventing rotations of the shaft and thereby movement of the sensor after the register has been actuated to indicated a predetermined value thereon.

22. A postage meter comprising: a housing having an open end and adapted to be hand-held; a carriage shiftably mounted within the housing for movement toward and away from said open end of the case, means releasahly holding said carriage in a first position; a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said carriage; a crank shiftably mounted on the carriage and movable into engagement with one of the arms, the other arm being connected to said one arm and being moved thereby when said crank engages said one arm, said crank being movable sutficiently to cause the other arm to engage said releasing means and to shift it to a location permitting movement of the carriage toward said open end; means biasing said carriage toward said open end; a pair of printing wheels mounted on the carriage for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage toward said open end; means connecting respective arms to said wheels to preset the latter, said wheels being disposed to engage a surface to be stamped when the carriage moves toward said open end; a base disposed across said open end and shiftably mounted on said housing, said base adapted to engage a surface to be marked and having an opening therethrough permitting access of said wheels to said surface; means coupling the housing to said carriage to cause the latter to move toward said open end when the housing moves relative to said base and toward a surface engaged thereby; and register means within said case and coupled with said crank arm for recording the distance through which the crank travels as it moves in one direction relative to the case.

23. Marking apparatus comprising: a first member; a second member shiftably mounted on said first member and engageable with a surface to be marked; means biasing said first and second members in one relative position; shiftable assembly means mounted on one of said members and including marking means provided with a number of marking areas, with each marking area having a value relative to the values of the other marking areas, said marking means being selectively movable to position a marking area in a marking location relative to said members; means connected with said assembly means for moving the latter means relative to said members and in one direction to shift said marking means from an initial position to a surface-marking position in response to relative movement of said members; means coupled with said assembly means for moving the same in the direction opposite to said one direction to shift said device from said surface-marking position after said marking means has moved into said surface-marking position and independently of the position of said members relative to one other member.

24. Marking apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein is provided an actuatable register coupled with said assembly means, and means responsive to the selective positioning of said device and to the relative movement of said members for actuating said register, whereby the register will record an indication of the relative value of a marking area in said marking location corresponding to each time the device moves into said surface-marking position.

25. Marking apparatus comprising: a pair of interconnected members, one of the members being shiftably mounted on the other member and disposed for movement relative thereto in one direction through a limited distance to cause said other member to be urged into engagement with a surface to be marked; a marking unit shiftably mounted on a first of said members and including a marking device having a number of marking areas thereon, said device being movable relative to said members along a first path to position any one of said marking areas in a marking location, said marking unit being movable along a second path into and out of a position with said marking location in marking relationship to a surface to be marked; first stop means coupled with said unit for releasably holding the same out of said position and being shiftable relative thereto sufiiciently to clear the unit and thereby allow the latter to move into said position; means coupled with said unit for moving the same toward said position when said first stop means clears said unit; second stop means coupled with said unit for shifting said first stop means to a location clearing said unit, said second stop means having an operative location for each marking area of ,said device respectively and being movable into any one of said operative locations as the corresponding marking area is moved into said marking location; means responsive to the movement of said one member relative to the other member for sensing the operative location of said second stop means corresponding to the marking area in said marking location and for moving said second stop means sufliciently to cause the latter to shift said first stop means to said clearing location.

26. Pattern-producing apparatus comprising: a first member; a second member shiftably mounted on said first member; means biasing said first and second members toward respective relative positions; a pattern-producing means shiftably attached to said one member and being selectively adjustable to permit an object to be patterned in any one of a number of suitable patterns by said means upon each complete operation of said means; a key element within the pattern-producing area of said patternproducing means in normally interfering relationship with the production of a suitable pattern by said means; means coupled to said key element to change said key element out of said relationship upon adequate relative movement between said first and second members and to automatically return said key element to said relationship immediately following the pattern-producing operation; a patternsensing means coupled to said pattern-producing means to respond to the setting to produce a suitable pattern of said pattern-producing means for each complete operation of said pattern-producing means; means urging all said components except pattern-sensing means automatically to return to their start-of-cycle condition upon completion of each operation of said apparatus whereby the same pattern-producing cycle normally is immediately repeatable. 

